I recently bought this 1980 bike and car, have no idea how to set it up.
It pulls hard to the right when driving. If I let off the throttle, it stops pulling and goes straight.
Can anyone give me a few basic tips as to how to set the bike/car up?
Should the car lean into the bike or away?
Does it point straight down the road with the bike or slightly away/towards?
Thanks
Mike,
Welcome to the world of sidecars. I know where you are I was there not long ago myself. The best that was told to me was read, read, read. And a good place to start is the link below. Well it was the best for me.
http://www.sidecar.com/links3.asp
Everyone will tell you to do some basic reading ...Me included. But just for basic reference ...allignment is critical. The main frame of the sidecar should be horizontal to the ground. When the motorcycle is pointed straight ahead, the sidecar should be slightly "toed in". This means the front of the sidecar should be angled in toward the front wheel of the motorcycle a very slight amount. The main frame of the motorcycle should lean slightly to the left as though trying to turn to the left. There should be a passenger or ballast (i.e. sandbags or steel plates, etc somewhere between 50 or 100 pounds to keep the side wheel from raising during practice of right hand turns.
This is very simplified and your reading should uncover more specific allignment procedures. These numbers will vary with the type of sidecar, weights, type of riding .and so on. Be careful and good luck TomJ
Got Pix?
If under 200 KB put them in Albums and we can ID your car for you.
Lonnie
Hey, I went to the link and lo and behold, there was lots of info about exactly what I do not know.
So I will read for a while and attempt to straighten this rig out.
Doesn't look too difficult.
Thanks to everyone who pointed me in the right direction(toe in)
Now, if I could just get my teenage daughter to get in the sidecar, we would be rollin'
Can't imagine what she is scared of...I only ran over a FEW curbs.
Mike
I certianly figured out the ballast thing quickly, I probably have 50- 80 Lbs of soiled pants from having the car pick up on the first few right turns. I threw an old servo motor in the cars seat,buckled it in, and things started to make more sense. (It quit trying to kill me)
Thanks for the tips.
Mike
none yet, but I will take a few and put them in.
Thanks
PS, is it normal for the car to be bolted to a chunk of wood that is bolted to the sidecar frame?
Mike
